Post #108029 by TikiHula on Thu, Aug 12, 2004 2:47 PM

On 2004-08-12 12:15, RIBEERGUY wrote:
I have no idea how to tell a mug from the 50s to one from the 70s or 80s.

For the most part, we seem to have the same problem. A few people in the know have left some comments on some of the mugs in my Tiki Gallery telling when they were made. But, for the most part, mugs were made and used at all different times at the restaurants. You can sometimes tell an older mug (50s and 60s) from a newer mug (70s and 80s) by how much detail there is- the molds lost detail as they were used. Also, anything with China on it is a newer mug, while anything with Japan (and/or crazing) is older.

I get emails all the time from people looking at my website and wondering what years a certain mug or bowl was used. Or, they want to know more about the Otagiri or Orchids company- and there just isn't that kind of information available to us. I think we'd have to be contacted by someone who worked in management at these companies to get any real information. And that hasn't happened yet.

Enjoy collecting though, not knowing any information about a mug can add to it's mystery and appeal.